Arts & Entertainment

LV Garden Club Member Wins Award

Area exhibit offers accolades.

The District IV Garden Club of New Jersey, composed of sixteen area garden clubs, held their “In the Spirit of the Garden” Flower Show at Willowwood Arboretum and Bamboo Brook Education Center in Chester Township on Sept. 17.

The following is information from a press release provided by the Garden Club of Long Valley.

There were 48 Individual Design Exhibits along with four Exhibits in Club Competition; 128 Individual Horticulture Exhibits along with four Exhibits in Club Competition; 40 Youth Exhibits; two Educational Exhibits; and one Invitational Exhibit.

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Club members swept floors and shined windows until they sparkled in preparation for the staging of the many exhibits to be judged. They transformed a cold stone barn at Willowwood into a warm inviting showplace for the display of design entries. The Music Room at the Education Center in Bamboo Brook even allowed placement for horticulture on its windowsills, and outside the many terraces were used for large container plants and other entries. The Playhouse, where the Youth Exhibits and Education were displayed, required an enchanting walk through the garden areas that over-looked the reflecting pool.

The Judges for the show needed to travel between Willowwood and Bamboo Brook. Robert and Marge Graham from the New Jersey Region Antique Automobile Club of America graciously offered to provide the Evaluating Judges transportation in their 1931 Model A Ford and 1962 Impala Chevrolet. The rides were enjoyed by all. The Judges for the flower show certainly had their work cut out for them. Listed below are their awards.

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Top Awards for Design

Award of Design Excellence and Award of Distinction were won by Patty Bowman, from Long Valley Garden Club in the design class named “Bursting with Color”. Petite Award was won by Pat Middings from Chester Garden Club in the design class named “Tango”. Table Artistry Award was won by Terry Holman from Long Valley Garden Club in the design class named “An Enchanted Evening”. Designer’s Choice Award was won Betty Calhoun from Community Garden Club of Hunterdon County in the design class named “Reflections in the Pool”. Club Competition Award for Design was won by Long Valley Garden Club in the design class named “Beside the Garden Gate”.

Top Awards for Horticulture 

Award of Horticultural Excellence and District IV Flower Show Trophy were won by Diana Reinhardt from The Neshanic Garden Club in the horticulture section named “Pick a Peck of Peppers” (Challenge Class). Arboreal Award was won by Ann Kirk from Chester Garden Club in the horticulture section named “Evergreen Beauties” (Needled Evergreens). Award of Merit was won by Diana Reinhardt from The Neshanic Garden Club in the horticulture section named “The Plentiful Kitchen Garden” (Fruit and Vegetables). Award of Merit was won by Susan O'Donnell from Community Garden Club of Hunterdon County in the horticulture class named “The Cutting Garden”. Grower's Choice Award was won by Alice Dickson from The Garden Club of Long Valley in the horticulture section named “The Plant Collectors”. Grower's Choice Award was won by Peggy Koehler from Bridgewater Garden Club in the horticulture section named “The Joys of the Plant Hunters”. Grower's Choice Award was won by Peggy Koehler from Bridgewater Garden Club in the horticulture section named “The Splendor of It All”. Club Competition Award was won by The Garden Club of Long Valley in the horticulture section named “Treasure and Pride”.

Top Awards for Special Exhibits

Education Award was won by Peggy Koehler exhibiting “Terraria 19th Century Vogue” in the section called “Let Nature Be Your Teacher”. Youth Top Exhibitor Award was won by Boy Scout Troop 92 in the section named “A Laughing Place” (Pumpkin Challenge). Youth Top Exhibitor Award was won by Peyton Bothur, a 10 year-old from Bridgewater Garden Club in the section named “Hide and Seek” (An Assemblage). Youth Top Exhibitor Award was won by Mara Stahlhut, a 12 year-old from The Garden Club of Long Valley in the section named “Hide and Seek” (An Assemblage). Youth Creativity Award was won by Mara Stahlhut, a 12 year-old from The Garden Club of Long Valley in the class named “Happy Birthday” (Cake of dried plant Material). Youth Creativity Award was won by Amanda Scanlon, an 8 year-old from Neshanic Garden Club in the class named “Happy Surprises”.


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